Abstract
Bio/chemoinformatics tools can be deployed to compare antimicrobial agents aiming to select an efficient nose-to-brain formulation targeting the meningitis disease by utilizing the differences in the main structural, topological and electronic descriptors of the drugs. Cefotaxime and ceftriaxone were compared at the formulation level (by comparing the loading in gelatin and tripalmitin matrices as bases for the formation of nanoparticulate systems), at the biopharmaceutical level (through the interaction with mucin and the P-gp efflux pumps) and at the therapeutic level (through studying the interaction with S. pneumoniae bacterial receptors). GROMACS v4.6.5 software package was used to carry-out all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. Higher affinity of ceftriaxone was observed compared to cefotaxime on the investigated biopharmaceutical and therapeutic macromolecules. Both drugs showed successful docking on mucin, P-gp efflux pump and S. pneumoniae PBP1a and 2b; but ceftriaxone showed higher affinity to the P-gp efflux pump proteins and higher docking on mucin. Ceftriaxone showed less out-of-matrix diffusion and higher entrapment on the gelatin and the tripalmitin matrices. Accordingly, Ceftriaxone gelatin nanospheres or tripalmitin solid lipid nanoparticles may pose a more feasible and efficient nose-to-brain formulation targeting the meningitis disease compared to the cefotaxime counterparts.
Highlights
Meningitis is a serious infection or inflammation of the meninges that can be caused by a wide variety of infectious agents[1]
S. pneumoniae, possesses three class A PBPs (PBP1a, PBP1b, and PBP2a), two class B PBPs (PBP2x and PBP2b), and one class C PBP (PBP3) with d,d-carboxypeptidase activity[9,10] and PBP2x possesses a C-terminal extension consisting of two PBP- and serine/threonine kinase-associated (PASTA) domains each containing one α-helix and three β-strands[11]
The gelatin and tripalmitin have been rationally selected as the nanoparticulate matrices material for loading the investigated drugs due to their proven successful compatibility with the olfactory nerves and regions, their successful penetration through the drug brain barrier and their efficiency on loading several hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs[31,32,33]
Summary
Meningitis is a serious infection or inflammation of the meninges that can be caused by a wide variety of infectious agents[1]. A broad spectrum cephalosporin, especially cefotaxime (adults 2 g every 6 h; children 50 mg/kg every 6 h) or ceftriaxone (adults, 4 g/day; children, 50 mg/kg, to maximum 2 g/ day single dose) is the most appropriate empirical choice. These cover N. meningitides, S. pneumoniae, and H. influenzae and penetrate CSF well[5]. Cefotaxime (C16H17N5O7S2) and ceftriaxone ( C18H18N8O7S3) are third generation cephalosporin antibiotics with broad spectrum bactericidal activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria They cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and reach therapeutic concentrations in the central nervous system (CNS). S. pneumoniae, possesses three class A PBPs (PBP1a, PBP1b, and PBP2a), two class B PBPs (PBP2x and PBP2b), and one class C PBP (PBP3) with d,d-carboxypeptidase activity[9,10] and PBP2x possesses a C-terminal extension consisting of two PBP- and serine/threonine kinase-associated (PASTA) domains each containing one α-helix and three β-strands[11]
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